Berklee Partners with IDB to Expand Music Education Opportunities in Latin America

From Berklee News: “Berklee Latino, Berklee’s Spanish-language program, returned to Bogota, Colombia, to partner with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The Berklee/IDB partnership is the first initiative that employs Berklee’s renowned curriculum via three synchronized components: Berklee Latino clinics, Berklee PULSE® Music Method, and specialized Berklee MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). The partnership will also allow for the translation of selected material into Spanish and integration of fully licensed contemporary Latin music.”

Final concert from a Berklee Latino program Photo: Pamela Hersch

“Coupled with the training of the teachers to use PULSE and providing computers to the local schools, we are creating an unprecedented opportunity for thousands of young people across the continent to experience music education at no cost,” said Lee Whitmore, Berklee’s vice president for education outreach and social entrepreneurship. PULSE will release translated material come September 1st, 2017. In addition, tunes and grooves will be created focusing on the rich cultural diversity of musical styles that originated in South America. Students and educators will have an opportunity to explore an individual country’s musical heritage through creative lesson material and interactive online learning tools.